New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-14
SCIENCE AND IND USTRIES.

The men of science who are assembled III
this city represent the forces which nave
created new world. Fifty years ago, whch
the President convened an extra session OF
Congress because of commercial and industrial
disasters eliminating in panic, his message
was delivered at noon, September ., at Wash
incton l.: reached Ncw-York at IL o'clock that
night bv special Government express and
part of the way by railroads just constructed
reached New-Haven by steamboat at o :oo
the next morning, Worcester by horse express
at IL :33, and Boston by rail at II so, taxing
but little over twentyfour hours for It's trans
mission, which was considered an amazing
triumph of advancing science. Now mes
sage could be read before midday on the shores
of the Pacific Ocean, if delivered at Wasmns
ton at noon. This is only an illustration OF
the marvellous progress which fifty years has
brought in all our commerce and our INDUS
tries and the advance of science has wrought
such revolutions that the world oil 1881 hoV
only no longer exists, but Is almost conf
pletely forgotten. Fifty years ago inc hrs'
anthracite furnace was built, and the whoie
country was producing in year ABOUT DIS
much iron as it has produced this year Ill TWO
weeks. In 1887 it was accounted WONDER
ful thing that 1000 900 tons Of anthracite
coal weIe used ; now the mines put out as
muoh in ten days. Fifty years ago tho
country consumed DO, 900 bales of cotton Ill
home manufacture, or five and one-thlrd'
mounds per capita. Now the country con-
sumcs mo1e than 151 pounds per capita even
during the past year. and over l9o III inc
nrevious wear. So of other departments OF
industry in great number; science has icVo'
lutonzcd human endeavOr, and nowhere nave
if, triumphs been more conspicuous or more
fruitful than in the United States.
The palt of science in all our labOrs is rccoG-
nized as it never was in old times. Sclehthlc
agriculture used 10 mean, to the popular
undels landing, a waste OF money IN chIhcilc"
cxperimcnts But in these days the farmer
himself bcgs the Weather Bureau, the en-
tomologist, the chemical analyst, TO ana MN
at every step. Pracucalr manufacturers
of iron and steel do not nowadays dream Of
achieving high success without the aid Of a
scientific chemist, and the country makes
more steel than any other nation on earth
bcause it puts more knowledge into the con-
vcrtcrs. In the thousand uses Of the electrical
force this country has practically led the
world, so that france, Germany, Great Britain
and Austria have altogether only about as
many miles of wire in operation as the
[ nitcd States.
1t is not to be expected that the proceedings
and discussions of the distinguished scientists
should be fully appreciated by the multitude
Most of the work of scientific men can be
comprchcnded only through It's results, and
after wears have elapsed AMI custom has made
the millions familiar with the practical
changes effected But perhaps science herself
would attain larger popular appreciation and
support, and consequently larger opportunities
and more rapid progress, if more effort were
made to bring scientific principles and tho
steps of scientific progress to the comprehch-
sion of a larger number Of the people.